INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS
CHAPTER III: TESSA

Nothing bore her than the maids lining in the house to welcome her after school. The butler stood outside the door, bowing. The guards surrounding the house gripped their guns tightly like they were expecting an attack. There were no children playing in the yard or parents welcoming her. It was the same every day. Sometimes, she wished she’s a normal teenager; going out with friends, partying late at night, or dating someone.

She was no princess. But her family was wealthy enough to own the most luxurious house in town. However, it was too big for her and her dad. Being the mayor of the town and a renowned business man, her father spent less in their house and usually sleep in his office. She never knew her mother. Her father did not want to speak anything about her. Whenever she tried to ask, his response was always the same, “let’s not talk about someone who’s not here.” He would get angry and storm out the room.

Her father was not always bossy. When he was around, he cared and attended to her. Sunday was their bonding time, they would drive somewhere – to eat or hang out. They would shop, go to the beach or walk in the park. She loved him dearly, but his work was stealing him away from her.

“Ma’am, may I take your school bag?” the butler asked her when she neared the door. She looked at Mr. Steve Rowe and noticed his weary brown eyes. He was looking at the ground but she could tell that he was exhausted from the way he was breathing and the sweat on his brow. His usual uniform - black vest, white long sleeves shirt, black tie and black slacks - was crumpled. The dust on his shoes showed that he had a rough day.

“Are you okay, Steve? You look drained.” As he stood up properly, she noticed the dark circles around his eyes, like he didn’t sleep well for days.

“Nothing, milady”, the butler replied, not looking directly at her eyes. Something was wrong. Even though he was already in his 40′s, he was usually full of life. For 18 years of serving their family, he had been close to her like an uncle, and would keep her company when her father was away.

“Well, you don’t look fine. You’re not that old.” He laughed at this. It was not a joke, but at least she made him smile.

“I’m almost 45.” Steve carried her bag pack and walked with her towards the stairs. She never loved this house. It was too big for her, and too quiet. The staircase was made of wood with waves carved on the sides. Paintings hung from the wall. A portrait of her and her dad was placed on the middle. Porcelain vases stood opposite them. There were three doors in the ground floor; one leading to the main kitchen, another leads to the library, and the last opens the receiving area.

She took her bag from Steve’s grip and started towards the stairs, tired from the school’s camp.

“What do you want for dinner?” she heard Steve when she was already on the top.

“Sleep!” Then closed her door.

Her room was just beside her father’s, but she was not allowed to go inside without permission. Upon opening her room, Tinker, her dog barked and run towards her.

“How are you, Tinker?” The husky replied with a bark. Feeling drained, she jumped into her blue bed and hugged her pillow. School camp lasted a week; three days in the forest camp, two at school, and two at the beach. The curtains were replaced with light blue embroidered drape. Her dvds, once scattered in the floor before she left, were placed in the selves beside the television set. There was a couch near the window so she could look at the stars at night. Her trophies and achievements were placed in the glass cabinet near her bed. She won first place in every contest she joined, but her father was not always there to congratulate her. She wished her mom was here; she must have been proud of her.

She stood to change her clothes and noticed her phone on the bed 1side table. Damn it. So this is where you’ve been hiding. Before the camp, she forgot to put her phone in her bag. Her father was furious and contacted her through her teachers. I don’t need it anyway. I’m in the woods.

Upon changing her clothes, she went to clean her desk. She does not let anyone, even the maids; touch her things on the desk. A picture fell out of the book she borrowed from his father’s library. Picking it up, she saw a strangely familiar woman smiling at her. Unlike her long but curly at the end light brown hair, the woman had long straight dark one. Her red floor-length ball gown looked stunning. They have the same golden eyes.

Mom. She knows it was her. The same eyes. The same smile. Written at the back of the picture was the name Margarette.

Suddenly, the birth mark on her chest began to ache. She touched it through her clothes. There was a brown mark shaped like a crescent moon near her heart. But this was the first time she felt the throbbing pain. She put her mother’s picture in her pocket and walked towards the door. She was going to ask Steve for an ointment.

Then she heard her father’s car, followed by running footsteps. What is he doing here? It’s not Sunday. She was holding the knob when the pain started again. But this time, it felt like her skin was burning. She screamed. Falling to her knees, she put her hand on the mark. It felt hot. What the heck.

“Tessa!” She heard her father shout outside her door, but she cannot move. The pain was too much for her. Tears flowed from her eyes and she was breathing heavily. Her father started banging on her door after replaceing that it was locked. “Open the door Tessa!” She tried to stand but the sting vibrated through her body.

“I can’t. It hurts.” She doesn’t know if he heard her. Another footstep came and her father stopped banging. She heard the key being inserted through the knob and the door opened revealing her father and Steve. Mayor Eric Morgan stood in his three-piece business suit with worried expression. His light brown hair was wet and messy. His dark eyes looked swollen from crying. Why?

“Are you ok?” He walked towards her and scooped her in his arms. Steve stood outside the door, looking at them with unreadable expression. She sat on her bed with her father.

“It burns.” She moved her top to reveal the throbbing skin on her chest. It was already red and the mark was slowly fading. “What is happening, Dad?” Her father looked at Steve with anxious expression. But Steve just walked towards her eyeing the mark, saying nothing. They were hiding something, she knew.

“There’s something you need to tell me. What is it?” She looked at her Dad, then at Steve. The pain subsided a little, but it was still there. “Tell me before it’s too late.” This caught the attention of the two men. Steve pushed a chair towards her and sat. Her father stood up and walked towards her window.

“Who’s mom?” Steve’s eyes widened and her father rushed towards her. She desperately wanted to know everything. She wanted to know now. They’re keeping me away from mom.

Steve sighed and gave a small smile. “Should I tell him, Eric? Or is it up to you?” Her father nodded and sat on her bed.

“I’ve met her in high school. But we’re not in the same school,” her father begun. “I was walking home late because of a party and I saw her sitting near the road, injured. I helped her and fell in love with her. I never asked her how she obtained her wounds. She never told me where she lived, who her parents are, and what’s her life before we met. I only know her name.” He looked down and ran his fingers on his dishevelled hair.

“Margarette.” The name at the back of her picture. She took the picture from her pocket and gave it to her father. He looked at it with pained expression.

“We would meet every afternoon without me knowing who she really is. She said it’s not yet time for me to know. Then one day, I asked her to marry me. It took her a month before she accepted. I didn’t know her past and present, but I want to be her future. We were happy when we had you. We lived in this house after our wedding. But our happiness only lasted a month after you were born. She told me everything about her life. And she said she must go because her people needed her.” Tears formed in his father’s eyes. He closed his eyes for a moment. When he looked at her again, he smiled lovingly at her.

“What was her life?” Tessa was confused now. Why would her mother leave them?

“She left us after she told me everything. I tried to stop her but she only smiled and said that she loves us.” Tears fell on his wrinkled but still handsome face. It must have wrecked him when she left.

“But why did she left?” She looked at Steve for answers. She had a feeling that he knows everything.